Dental glossary

A small post, usually titanium or zirconia, placed in the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once it has fused with the bone, it supports a crown, a bridge or a denture. Whether an implant is suitable depends on bone, gum health and general health, assessed at an examination with imaging.

The process in which the jawbone grows onto the surface of an implant and holds it firmly. It usually takes a few months and is the reason most implant treatment happens in stages, with the final tooth fitted after healing.

The connector that joins an implant in the bone to the crown or bridge above the gum. It can be stock or custom-made, and its material and fit affect how the gum settles around the new tooth.

Fitting a temporary tooth or bridge on an implant on the day it is placed, instead of waiting for the bone to heal. It is only possible when bone quality and implant stability allow it; the permanent restoration still follows healing.

A way of supporting a fixed full-arch bridge on four implants, with the back two usually angled to make use of the available bone. It is one option for a jaw with no teeth or with teeth that cannot be kept; suitability depends on bone and bite.

A fixed full-arch bridge supported by six implants instead of four. More implants spread the chewing load over more support but need more bone; which option fits is decided from the scan and the bite, not from the name.

Material placed where the jawbone is too thin or too low for an implant, so new bone can form there. It adds a healing period, often of several months, before the implant can be placed or loaded.

A procedure that raises the floor of the maxillary sinus and adds bone beneath it, so an implant can be placed in the upper back jaw where bone height is limited.

Inflammation of the gum and bone around an implant, usually driven by plaque. Signs include bleeding, swelling or pus around the implant. Left untreated it can cause bone loss and implant failure, which is why cleaning and check-ups matter.

A removable denture that clips onto two or more implants. It is more stable than a conventional denture and is taken out for cleaning, unlike a fixed full-arch bridge.

A cap that covers the whole visible part of a tooth, used when a tooth is heavily filled, cracked or root-treated, or on top of an implant. The tooth is reshaped to make room, so it will need a restoration from then on.

A thin ceramic shell bonded to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or length. Most veneers need some enamel to be removed, which cannot be reversed, and veneers are eventually replaced like any restoration.

Tooth-coloured resin applied directly to a tooth and shaped in the chair to close small gaps, repair chips or change shape. It usually needs little or no enamel removal, but it stains and wears faster than porcelain.

A strong ceramic used for crowns, bridges and implant restorations. It is often chosen where strength matters, such as back teeth or people who grind; it is generally less translucent than glass-ceramics.

A glass-ceramic used for veneers, crowns and inlays, valued for its translucency on front teeth. Zirconia and lithium disilicate are different materials for different situations, not a premium and a standard grade.

Restorations made outside the mouth and bonded into (inlay) or over part of (onlay) a back tooth. They can repair a large cavity while keeping more natural tooth than a full crown.

A fixed replacement for one or more missing teeth, held by crowns on the neighbouring teeth or by implants. A tooth-supported bridge needs those neighbouring teeth to be prepared.

A tooth-coloured resin filling bonded into a cavity after the decay has been removed. It is the most common filling today; amalgam is an older, metal alternative.

Reshaping a tooth, by removing some enamel and sometimes dentine, so a crown or veneer fits. Enamel does not grow back, so a prepared tooth stays committed to being restored.

Planning the shape and proportions of new front teeth on photographs and scans before treatment, often followed by a trial mock-up in the mouth. It is a planning and communication tool, not a guarantee of the final result.

A marketing name, not a clinical term, for changing the colour, shape and alignment of the visible front teeth, usually with veneers or crowns. The number of teeth, the material and the amount of preparation differ from case to case.

A combined plan that may use several treatments, such as gum treatment, orthodontics, whitening, bonding, veneers or crowns, in a set order. It differs from a veneer-only "Hollywood Smile" in that it starts from what each tooth and the gums need.

Lightening natural tooth enamel with a peroxide-based gel, in the clinic or at home with custom trays. It does not change the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers, temporary sensitivity is common, and results fade over time.

Removing infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, cleaning and shaping the canals, and sealing them. It aims to keep a tooth that would otherwise need extraction; back teeth usually need a crown or onlay afterwards.

Damage to enamel and dentine caused by acids from plaque bacteria feeding on sugar. Very early enamel changes can sometimes be stopped with fluoride and better habits; once a cavity has formed, it needs a filling or other restoration.

Inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, with redness, swelling and bleeding on brushing. It is reversible with professional cleaning and good daily care, before it damages the bone that holds teeth.

Advanced gum disease in which inflammation destroys the bone and tissue that support the teeth, leading to gum pockets, loose teeth and eventually tooth loss. It is usually treated before cosmetic or implant work starts.

Professional removal of hardened plaque (tartar) and staining from the teeth, above and just below the gum line. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing; how often you need it depends on your gums.

Gums pulling back from the teeth and exposing the root surface. Causes include gum disease, hard brushing and grinding; it can cause sensitivity and is managed by treating the cause and, in some cases, gum surgery.

A short, sharp pain from cold, heat, sweet food or brushing, when dentine is exposed by enamel wear or gum recession. Sensitivity can also signal decay or a crack, so persistent sensitivity should be examined.

A crack in a tooth that often causes sharp pain on biting or releasing, or with cold. Treatment depends on how deep the crack runs, from bonding or a crown to root canal treatment or, if it reaches the root, extraction.

Habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth, often during sleep. It wears and cracks teeth and restorations and can strain the jaw; a custom night guard is the usual protection, especially after veneers or crowns.

Pain or dysfunction of the jaw joints and chewing muscles, with jaw ache, clicking, limited opening or headaches. Most cases are managed conservatively; causes and treatment are assessed at an examination.

Persistent bad breath. Most cases start in the mouth, from the tongue coating, gum disease, decay or dry mouth, and improve when the cause is treated; a dentist can tell whether a medical check is also needed.

A bite in which the teeth or jaws do not meet as they should, such as crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, crossbite or open bite. Orthodontic treatment corrects the position of the teeth; some jaw problems also need surgery.

A series of removable clear plastic trays, each moving the teeth a little, worn most of the day and changed on a schedule. They suit many but not all bite problems, and results depend on wearing them as instructed and on retainers afterwards.

Brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by a wire that is adjusted over time to move them. Brackets can be metal or tooth-coloured ceramic; both work on the same principle.

A fixed wire or removable appliance worn after orthodontic treatment to stop teeth drifting back. Teeth can move throughout life, so retention is usually long-term.

A third molar that cannot come through fully because of lack of space or its angle. Removal is usually advised when it causes repeated infection, decay or damage to the neighbouring tooth, not automatically.

Painful inflammation of an extraction site when the blood clot is lost or fails to form, typically starting a few days after the extraction. Smoking and rinsing hard raise the risk; it is treated by the dentist, not left to settle.

A thin protective coating applied to the grooves of back teeth, usually in children, to make them harder for decay to start in. It is usually applied without drilling or injections and is checked at routine visits.

A concentrated fluoride coating painted onto the teeth to strengthen enamel and help prevent decay. It is commonly used for children and for adults at higher risk of decay.

A single two-dimensional X-ray showing all the teeth, both jaws and surrounding structures. It is a common first overview; it does not show bone width in three dimensions.

A three-dimensional dental X-ray that shows bone height and width, nerves and sinuses. It is used when that extra information is needed, for example for implant planning; it gives a higher radiation dose than a 2D image, so it is not routine for everyone.

A digital 3D impression of the teeth taken with a handheld camera instead of impression paste. It is used to design crowns, veneers, aligners and implant restorations.

A document listing the diagnosis, the procedures for each tooth, the materials, the sequence and number of visits, and the cost. A final plan follows an in-person examination; information sent before travel is preliminary.

An initial view of likely treatment, duration, steps and cost based on photographs and any X-rays you send. It is not a diagnosis and can change after the clinical examination.

Your agreement to a treatment after it has been explained, including the alternatives, risks and costs, in a language you understand. Signing a form records the decision; the explanation is what makes it informed.

An independent assessment of a proposed treatment plan by another dentist, most useful before irreversible work such as extractions, crowns or full-arch treatment.

A warranty from the company that made the implant component, covering that component under its own written terms. It is separate from anything a clinic offers and does not guarantee a biological result.